Toponymy

Affetside is derived from the Old English ofer ("border or boundary") and side ("hillside"), meaning the boundary on the hill, which is appropriate as its highest point is 900 ft (270 m) above sea level. The boundary follows the route of the Roman road known as Watling Street that ran from Manchester (Mamucium) to Ribchester (Bremetennacum) built in about 72AD. Affetside has been recorded with various spellings since the 16th century: Avesyde, Haffetside, Affaitsyde, Offyside, Affetsid. The present spelling was first recorded in 1504.^[1]

History

The village is on the Roman road between Manchester and Ribchester. The main street was called Watling Street. Development of the village accelerated in the 1700s when it provided grazing, blacksmiths and inns to travellers using the packhorse route. The Pack Horse Inn was built in 1443.^[2]

A day school opened in Affetside Chapel in 1879. As the building was shared, the congregation put out desks on Monday mornings and removed them on Friday in preparation for the Sunday service and did so until the school closed in August 2003.^[3]

The village lost 15 church and school members in the First World War. The chapel congregation raised funds for a memorial and purchased a new organ which was unveiled in 1920 and is still in use.

In 1955 Tottington Urban District Council suggested demolishing sub-standard cottages in the village and rehousing the occupants in Tottington. The suggestion was overwhelmingly unpopular. A battle for piped water caused residents to form an action group and piped water was supplied to the village from 1976.

Local historian James Francis, and author of Affetside, an historical survey, believes the village's strength shows through its survival. He says:

"The building of the local turnpike road was the death knell for the packhorse trains, but the Affetsiders showed great resilience in continuing to build up their village, and so the village did not collapse like others, less fortunate. For such a small village, with only about 150 people to still have a church and pub says a lot about the people who live there."^[1]

Affetside Cross

Affetside Cross

The cross is a grade II listed structure.^[4] Its shaft is made from a single piece of gritstone on a plinth consisting of two stone steps, one circular, 7.5 ft (2.3 m) in diameter, and 4 inches (0.10 m) high and a smaller one 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) in diameter and 10 inches (0.25 m) high. The shaft is a pillar with a square base 1 ft (0.30 m) wide tapering to a column 4 ft 8 in (1.42 m) high. At 4 ft 4 in (1.32 m) there is a collar with a bun-shaped capital. On its top is a socket that may have held the cross head or stone ball.^[5]

Affetside Cross was damaged in the 1890s by people mistakenly believing it concealed hidden treasure, and was repaired by the Lord of the Manor. It marks the supposed halfway point between London and Edinburgh and Its origin remains a mystery though it is thought to date from medieval times or earlier. Its proximity to the Roman road has caused many to speculate it to be Roman but others consider it a medieval route marker for pilgrims en route to Whalley Abbey. There is another such cross at Holcombe Moor to the east and one at Bradshaw which has been removed. The theory is plausible as the old east–west packhorse trail was a major route for the passage of goods and people. Another explanation is it is a market cross from Jacobean or Georgian times but Affetside had no market charter though markets did exist without one. It may mark the site of an earlier beacon due to its dominant position. The loss of the cross head is undated and there is no proof it had one.^[5]